Thoughts about politics, economics, societal trends in our lives and anything else that tickles my fancy. In the Spring and Summer the Sacramento Rivercats become part of this rant.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

IS this really something the federal government should do?

Fatherhood.gov is a new site to tell us all how to be better fathers. In my humble opinion - why should my taxpayer dollars be wasted on this project. Indeed, it is a good thing to improve the responsibility of fathers. Indeed, the civil society should take up this responsibility. But why the government?

I am offended that the President would suggest that it is the government's role to offer us the following - "To help show fathers the unique and irreplaceable role they play in their children’s lives, the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse encourages dads to Take Time to Be a Dad Today. The NRFC Media Campaign PSAs highlight how the smallest moments can have the biggest impact on a child’s life." What expertise does the federal government have in this role? More importantly which of the enumerated powers does this fall under? The site tells us "how to change a diaper" or "how to change a bike tire" do the feds actually think this will not be available without this being funded by tax dollars? But more importantly the site suggests that part of this crock is a new grant system to lay down a little boodle to compliant left wing groups who are actually trying to reduce the role of families. There is even a link to college loans - including one for Sallie Mae which the President virtually shut down with his new law passed as a part of the health care bill.

Arguably, federal policy has done a lot to break up families by the way we distribute subsidies to the poor - establishing a marginal tax rate that is higher than that paid by the highest income earners. Charles Murray argued that in his groundbreaking book "Losing Ground."

Want to cut the federal deficit? This is one of many examples of over step by the federal government.